Owls of Maine the HABITS and ADAPTATIONS of MAINE’S NATIVE OWLS

Owls of Maine THE HABITS AND ADAPTATIONS OF MAINE’S NATIVE OWLS

Owls have unique characteristics that set them apart from other birds. The Owls of Maine program introduces students to the habits and adaptations of Maine's native owls. The special features of these nocturnal birds are discussed using slides, diagrams, taxonomic displays, and live owls. Students also learn to recognize different owl calls, how to find pellets in the wild, and what to do if they find a young owl in the woods.

Our three live owls offer the rare opportunity to observe these fascinating birds. We currently care for Great Horned Owls, Barred Owls, Eastern Screech Owls, and a Northern Saw-whet Owl. Three of these four species will be brought into the classroom for further observation. Each of these native birds is considered a non-releasable animal with various injuries to their wings, prohibiting their ability to survive in the wild.

The Owls of Maine program may be used to introduce a unit of study or as the culminating experience. The program generates enthusiasm for the subject matter and can stimulate projects in science, language arts, math, social studies, art, or any curriculum area.

Equipment and Room Requirements

• Classroom Space is fine.

• Students should sit at desks or in seats to easily view slides and displays.

• Presentations are preferably done in a single location or in individual classrooms if 15 minutes is allowed between presentations.

• The school should provide a screen for the slide presentation. If there is not one available please notify us and we will provide one.

• Group size maximum is 30.

• Teachers must be present in the room during the program.

• Please be sure to wear the nametags provided in this packet.

Note: Permits are required for most of the specimens (living and stuffed) that are used in Chewonki Outreach Programs and students are reminded of the legal limitations of private collections. All of our living animals are non-releasable because of injuries or were captive raised before arriving at Chewonki. No animals have been harmed or taken specifically for use in Chewonki programs.

Chewonki Wiscasset, Maine Traveling Natural History Programs (207) 882-7323

Class Outline

Each presentation takes at least one hour and is designed for groups of all ages (pre K-adult). No specific preparation is required for this presentation. Adjustments are made for each grade and ability level.

A. Introduction: Characteristics and adaptations of owls. Terminology.

B. Slide show: Description of Maine owl species, habits, habitats and owl calls.

C. Hands-on exploration of real owl parts: Talons, feathers, wings, skulls, pellets

D. Live owls: Presentation of live birds. Reinforcement of learned concepts. Students cannot touch the owls, but are able to get quite close.

Chewonki Traveling Natural History Programs www.chewonki.org

OWLS of MAINE The Habits and Adaptations of Maine’s Native Owls

Have you heard an owl call at night and ever wondered what species it was? Or maybe you’ve seen an owl flying around and simply wondered about its behavior. Chewonki’s Owls of Maine program will answer these questions and more beginning with a slide show that presents common owl species found in Maine. Following the slide show, several live owls will highlight the program, offering an intimate look at these fascinating birds. This program offers participants the opportunity to take a closer look at real owl artifacts, such as wings, talons and skulls.

Presented by:

WISCASSET, ME 04578

LOCATION:______

DATE:______TIME:______

Chewonki Traveling Natural History Programs www.chewonki.org

PRESS RELEASE

Date: Contact:

Owls of Maine: The Habits and Adaptations of Maine’s Native Owls

What: A one-hour program for those interested in owls When: Time: Where: Cost: Presenter:

Chewonki is offering an intimate and detailed look at owls, bringing these creatures of the night into the light! They are live, non-releasable Barred, Great Horned, and Screech or Saw-Whet Owls are the highlights of this program, which introduces participants to owls that are native to Maine and New England.

This interactive program begins with slides and sounds to learn the different appearances and calls of each owl. Then, using talons, wings, and skulls, we explore the adaptations of these silent nocturnal hunters. The Owls of Maine program provides the opportunity to handle these unique specimens and is sure to engage participants of all ages.

Chewonki Traveling Natural History Programs www.chewonki.org

VOCABULARY accommodation Adaptation or adjustment of an organism, organ, or part. Specifically in owls it refers to the adaptation of the lens of the eye to permit independent retinal focus of objects at different distances. adaptation A behavior, physical feature, or other characteristic that helps an animal survive and make the most of its habitat. For example, ducks have webbed feet that help them swim. binocular vision Vision in which both eyes view the same scene from slightly different aspects: an aid to judging distance. binaural hearing Ability to catch sound in the near ear a split-second before sound reaches the far ear, this allows an owl to determine from which direction the sound is coming from. brood patch A small patch on the belly without feathers under which the eggs are kept warm. color phase Some owls have two main color forms, rufous and gray, known as color phases, such as the Eastern Screech owl. cone A light-sensitive cell in the eye that sees color. ear tufts Extended feathers on the heads of some owls that are often mistaken for ears, but are not related to hearing. facial disc The flattened area of an owl’s face, often edged in a dark color and used like a satellite dish to help funnel sound into the ears. fledge To attain the power of flight. Owls learning to fly are called fledglings. flight feathers Long feathers located on the wing which work to provide both thrust and lift in order to enable flight. habitat The locality in which a plant or animal lives. mobbing Small birds will often “mob” owls, gathering close and giving their alarm calls, diving, and often shaking their wings.

Nictitating membrane A third eyelid (in owls usually opaque in color), which cleanses and protects the eyeball. nocturnal Normally active at night. pellet Accumulation of undigested parts of food, regurgitated through the mouth in a compact mass. predation The killing of one species by another for food. Predatory birds are often called birds of prey or raptors. primary feathers Long narrow flight feathers which can individually separate and rotate, these feathers aid in the creation of thrust. pupil The central area of the eye through which light enters. raptor A predatory bird, typically one with strong feet, sharp talons, and a pointed, curved bill. rod A light sensitive cell important for seeing in low light, which helps to distinguish between light and dark. roost To sleep, or a place where birds rest or sleep. talons The sharply pointed and curved claws of a raptorial bird. tendon Tough, stringy connection between muscles and bones. secondary feathers Short blunt flight feathers that remain close together, the feathers provide lift. whitewash Excrement, or droppings, from a bird. Also called mutes or urates. Owl Name Tags Chewonki Traveling Natural History Programs www.chewonki.org

Photocopy this page and cut out the owl nametags for your participants to wear! Nametags worn during presentation help to excite students about owls and make it easier for the presenters to involve the children.

Chewonki Traveling Natural History Programs www.chewonki.org

AIMS Education Foundation. Reproduced with Permission. www.chewonki.org

qN e F{ T3 c t * H $ Ji ! eEfsfrenFryg3.;:fti$iusg - u F i 6 * p + \ f E

* c !

F : f f * + *{ftt$ilRiEi$s$s$ # 5 s +f E *Eenru:$t*ig$:E g " i

* f

* ! I

i * * g , i-sk * * i ? S 9

" * $ . s f x t * i . t ! ! t , r i f

$ $ p s F - v L

3 ses ( -

i ! * ! r ; : - + 3

w * s ; * s d *=,RSI

: t 5 r . , & s : t .

S 1 H # s - t F T \ ; n

i $ S q n c H*6i f = o a * t i f i'uu

f ) - f

f s S r H e f x f , u * i f e t e f # i

$ i '

AIMS Education Foundation. Reproduced with Permission. * www.chewonki.org

thr, clar4a rc'a w(A talnnt ryd ay?,g 'ohna W'(aa chhd cVAtC,lI.,t'fLA r",bUf: loe4 frot aqd at thr., , l/lrj\ ',,r r?ore0r tY afbacK r Qlt" , . .rf 40 ?l,l,/ 7rad9 /Q,,,.111r, all slqbt tou f'tytLfeu\ ,t.otT VtqstL tei '4'l'ii' ob't b \tf oqLt Lr'r Arab ,1,r vilw{ft###,y{f; n*lt VrrAfli avoff H'faherz th& mak?a-o ir?w hen !.hrg{ tU., -fhe9 wLI7fe ab,fiei2,are,fu"goQbr ohr eJucol tve,,?trd vtvYvangaon d cwt aorfftt,r fia,,novb,-fterzu2o ot' tht/r tVo oocl.T'yr c,Vd lry nlE near ff antng.

Aftor cqrtug,n,hg y,rg\:,!ho, qLf tut2v ac{t-o itf yq'ot!rtttu'o qat.r t,'u.rl\v'qeiAltui tatlolj( tr' ir"l- ehQLe,. $ ?ro! it tqe,-L 4g'ofi,fd V" to, u:Lca n,{ e{i-,Lfif;, ?n4\Lor,,'7uora"Stfh..\ oV, i LuNC"W,;K,fur. owL'td negti.vi"pLt cV|,pzq{,i' vreaKdo gnL ht'fur, ttrAfgY,rA{; # l ,,{yrr;,;4: L:;&tfMfi! it:h,. 4*+.:,? ' ,,lf,Wf ::fli#"ilPx,i*ih;d# ;W V #, Y,trtrnillt{ W'i}Z?nii, i?"i2a*ff*ft\A tu?tu,' , , , Fa\n, owp ihlofI, l f'4o dn rat2',-,ty.e,n|and brrd2C. wLff ava fhair ?t*?r:v \too_igL?, o4r," 'huntlQg"araa,

AIMS Education Foundation. Reproduced with Permission. www.chewonki.org

$ ; 5 x ; s f H , $ . : ! e H ; r

a r i l f f q f i * f f + ; i f $ i f i i l w l s s % H l s f f f $ f F i f a i s :

AIMS Education Foundation. Reproduced with Permission. www.chewonki.org FOODG HAIN

. All owls are predators,w hich means they.dependo n other owl abundance is not iimited by.the rise and fall in nurirbers ol animalsf or food. Butv ery few predatorsfe edo n owls,l n.fact, any ons pray specles. ll a prelerrgd prey species should be- o'wlso ften eat other predators,.sucahq weaselsb, ats,s hrews come scarce. owls will switch to others. However, the snovvy and insect-eatingb irds,T herefoie,o wls hold a positiona t the owl ls dependent upon lgmmings 'or lts steady diet when it is top of the food chain. Llke inany predatdrst,h ey feed fiom raising young on the arctic tundra'in spring and surrimer. In morBt han one linko n the chain. yearg when lemmlngs. !ire scarce, snowy owls will actually reduce the number of eggs laid, or not nist at all. Becauser nost sireciesh unt at ntght, owls faed uponr different group of prey speclest han raptorst hat hunt by day. Hares, Likea ll predators,l nbludlhg man, owls play an important role weaselsa ndm anys pecleso f mlcea rem orea ctivea tn ighta nd In nature by removing individuals surplus to prey popula- , are expoSedt o predatlon'i t.that. riine. Hawks,e aglesa nd tlons, Most wildlife populatlohs produie more offspring than falconsm ay occasionallyta ket hesos peclesin the earlym or- their habitats can support. Thege surplus lndividuals must ningso r late evenings;b ut spend most of thelr time hunting eventually die of starvation. dlsease, or predation. While squirrels,g rouse,s ongbirdsd nd other diumal animals. starvation and disease may affect individuals throughout th.e population, pradatofs tend to remove the we:rker memb'ers of As with most wildlife, numbersa re largelyd ependenut pon a populatlon that ar! easiestt o catch and least able to cope thq amount of tood available,p articularlyw hen young are with the rigors of their envirctnment. In so doing, predators beingr aised.S incem ost owls feid upon a varietyo f animals. help maintaln the health and viability of prey populations.

GREATH ORNEDO WL

Snowshoe Hare

LIFESTYLAEN D HABITS

Owls are birds of prey tl"rata re especiallya dapted for hunting Likeo ther raptors,o wls have strong feet wiih sharp,c urved at night, Their large eyes enable them to see well under low- talonsu sedf or graspinga nd carryingp reYia nd'theyh ave light conditions. The eyes face forward in a flat, broad- strong,h ookedb eaksf or tearingf lesh. feathered, "facial disk". not fct.uridin other birds. ln this way, both eyes see the same object at the sarnet ime; providing the bird with binocularv ision. Binocularv ision enablesa n owl to j.udgbd istances between objects and ihtts increasest he bird's iUitity to maneuver in a crowded environment.S incet heeyes arei mmovablyfixed in theirsockets,a n owl mustturn its head to follow moving objects.T his motion is aided by a long and flexible neck that allows the owl to turn its head more than 7aa round.

Right ear opening Left ear opening

Althoughm osto wlsa rea ctivea t night( nocturnals),o me'also huntb y day (diurnal). Skull of owl showing asymmetricael ar.o penings . Manyo wlsm igratet o thes outhernp ortionso f theirb reeding ranget o spendt he winter.O thers,l iket he greath orneda nd pygmyo wls,a rer esidenitn Albertat hroughoutth ey ear,o nly Along with their excellent sight, owls also locatet heir prey marginallmy ovingt o moref avorableh untinga reasin winter. with an acute sense of hearing.T he openingst o the earsa re Thes nowy owl migratesf rom the Arctict o spendt he winter large,a nd hidden behind the facial disk.T he right ear is posi. in Alberta. tioned high on the head, while the left ear is low. ln this way, sound reacheso ne ear beforet he other,a nd the owl is ablet o All specieso f owlsl ay plainw hitee ggs.T hesea rei aido vera detect exactly where the sound is coming from. ln experi- periodo f severadl ays.I ncubationa,n dt huse mbryod evelop- ments performed in totally dark rooms where eyesighti s use-. mentb eginsw itht he layingo f thef irste gg.E ggsh atcho vera less,o wls have caught mice on a leaf-litteredfl oor with 100% periodo f severadl ays,O ldern estlingsa rel argera ndh avea accuracy. greaterc hancea t survivalt han younger,s mallero nes.T his contrastws ith the hestingh abitso f uplandg ameb irdsa nd Many owls have long feathers on top of their headst hat are ducksw, herei ncubationd oes 'lear nots tartu ntilt hel aste ggi s.laid. cafl ed "ears" or tufts". These are not connected to the Ally oungh atcha t aboutt he samet ime,a nda ll havea n equal ears,a nd are not used for hear.ing, chancea t gettinge noughf ood.Y oungo wlsa rec aredf or by bothp arentsN. estlingo wlsa rev eryd emandingh, avinge nor- Owls ily on soft an{ silent wings. They can maneuver.among mous appetitesT. hey can eat their own vreighti n food in a trees and shrubs, and drop on their prey without warning. singlen ight Soft,c omb-like projections on flight featherse ffectivelym uffle the sound of air passing'overt he wings. The wings of other Allowlsf oundi nA lberti belongt o onef amily( StrigidaeS).i ze raptors (hawks, eagles)a re not so equipped.a nd make flap- variesfr om thato f the tiny pygmyo wl, 16c m (Oi n.)l ong,t o ping sounds in flight. Hawks and eagles depend more on theg reatg reyo wl,w hichc anm easureu p to 84 cm (33i n.)i n speed than stealth to catch their prey. fengthw, ith a wingspreado f 1ZOc m (47'in.).

From Owls of Alberta, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division, Edmonton 1986 www.chewonki.org Sor.firqgl'Orvls

Many peoplek eept heir stufftidy and eaiy to find by sorfing it. Maybet ley havea placef or.puzzles,a placef or books, a plaOe for pencils and crayons, and so on.

Scientists keep tack of living things and ttre facts known . about them in much the same way. They gnoqp liviag things .byfeatures'theyhaVe in courmon. They start with broad gtroups4s uch as animat or plant. They divide each broad group into smaller and more.specializedu rrits. They d.ivide gnoups ' agaih and agairy untii thgy n'avea unit that is a single specieso f living thing; A species has its own unique' Kttcpou two-part scienffic name. A scientific name is more exact than a colItmon name, such as qwi or hoot owl, which might describe several different birds.

. Onosa Stigiformes (AlI owls)

.O wls fi.t'the scienffi c classific ation Fn*uyfytoriau" F*m.v Strigidae syste4l like this: they belong in the Barn OwIs Typical OwIs KINGDOM Animalia (animals),t he PHILLII\4 Chordata (animals with backbones),t he CLASS Aves fbfuds), the ORDER Snigiformes (all owls). ffier this, owls are split into two groups, the barn owls (FAMILY Tytonidae) and the typical owls TFAMILY Stigridae). ('Typical'owl is a name gtven to the g-rorrF,n ot a description. Ii does not mean that all . owfs in this group.are average, standard, or alike.).

I Found a Baby Bird Itl'ou)W hat?

To flnd a rivltdlllere habllitator ln your irea, conlact: .Your statdw ildllfea gency . Human!S oci!ty . AudubonS OcleU . wild birds toros . clty anlmalc ontrolo tficer ls blrd hurt or sIlck (unablet o flutter . wlngs; bleeding;wlngsd rooPlng veterlnarian{w ildlife/exotic) . MarineP atrol unevenly;w eak or shlvedng;a ttacked CoastG uardo r . Service by caVdog)? US Fisha nd Wildlife . WldllfeR ehabl nfo Directory: http://umno.d u/-devooo28

Call a wlldllfe rehabllltator

l!'s a fledgllng. Unablet o reacha rehabllltator It's a netf,It gt Cally ours tatew ildlifea gencYo r (Needsh elPl) (Normabl ehaviotro be groundp; arents a wildlifev el Canyou frnd the hoppingo n ;\\ Is it intact? arasUllf eedingl! ) ls bld safa lrom cats, dogs, and people?. lf you'r6u nablelo reacha nYo lthe above,s ee lnstrucUonosn backo f page:'How BabY Lsavet he arEa. lhls lo Bescue Put babyb ackI n Makea substitute Babyls okay. Blrds." nesLP okeh olesi n nEst.O bservefr om bottomo l berry a distancEA. ra baskeVmargarine tub;l lnew ithd ry grassl,h e old nest, bird's or pinen eedles; A baby best chancef or hangf rom original ' or nearbyt ree. survival Lsave lhs area. Leavet he area. ls Baby okay. Babyls okay. ls its mother.

Putb aby ln n!st. Observefr om a distance.,4ro parents visiting nest? tf you tlnd a babyd uclgg ooso,q uall,o r kllldeer:

. lf youk nowl he mottieri s dead,o r lf babyl s InJured, calla wildlifer ehabllitatoril ghta way. . lf babyl s separatedfr oni the molhera ndy ou know wheres he ls, placeb abyc loseb y so shec an heari l. Leavet he area. Watchl rom a dlstance. . Baby ls okay. lf the motherl s not foundo r doesn ot clalmt he baby withlna n hourc, alla .wildlifere habilitatolfr y. ou cannol reacho ne,r escuelh e baby (seel nstructionso n back),

From Healerso l theWIId:P eopleWhoC are For lnJureda nd OrphanedWlldllfe

@1998G oyoleM oonP ressP OB ox6 867 DenverC O0 0206( 303)3 16-4633 [email protected]

Chewonki Foundation Traveling Natural History Programs www.chewonki.org

How to RescueB aby Birds

(Only adults shouldr escrJeb abyb irds.B eforer escuinga dult birds, seek guidancef roma wildlifer ehabilitator.)

1. Preparea container.P lacea clean,s oftc loth.witnho stringso r loopso n the bottomo f a cardboardb oxo r caVdogc arrierW itha lid.l f it doesn'th avea ir holes, mqkes ome.F ors maller.birdyso, uc anu sea papers ackw itha irh oles. 2. Protecty ourself.:Weagrl ovesi,f possibleS. qmeb irdsm ays tabw itht heirb eaks, slicew ith their talons( claws)a nd slapw itht heirw ings,t o protectt hemselves, eveni f sick; bir:dsc ommonlyh avep arasites(f leas,l ice,t icks)a nd carryd iseases. 3. Covert he bird with h light sheeto r towel. 4. Gentlyp ick up the bird and put it in the preparedc ontainer. 5. Warmt he bnimati f it's cold out or if the animali s chilled.P uto nee ndo f the animal'sc ontaineor n a heatingp ads eto n low Or filla zip-topp lasticb ag, plastics oftd rinkc ontainewr itha screwl id,o r a rubberg lovew ithh otw ater; wrapt he warmc ontainewr ithc loth,a ndp utn extt o the animalM. akes uret he containedr qesn'tl eak,o r thea nimawl illg etw eta ndc hilled. 6. Tapet he box shut or roll the top of the paperb ag closed. 7. Note exactlyw herey ou found the bird.T hisw illb e veryi mportanfto r release. ' 8. Keept he bird in a warm,d ark,q uietp lace. . Don'tg ivet he birdf oodo r water. Leavet he birda lone;donh'ta ndleo r botheirt . Keepc hildrena ndp etsa way. 9. Contacta witdlife rehabilitaiors, tatew itdlifea gency,o r wildlifev eterinarian as soon as possibte. . Don'tk eept he birda t yourh omel ongetrh ann ecessary. Keept he birdi n a containerd; on'tl eti t loosei n yourh ouseo r car. 10.W ashy our handsa fterc ontactw itht he bird. Washa nythingt he birdw as in contactw ith- towel,j acket,b lanket,p et carrier- to preventth e spreado f diqeaseas nd/orp arasitesto you or yourp ets. 11.G ett he bird to a wildlifer ehabilitatoars soona s possibte.

It'sa gainsth e tawi n mosts tatest o keep wild animal!i t youd on'th avep ermits,'. eveni f youp lant o releaseth em.

From Hdalerso f theWild: peopleW ho Care For Intureda nd OrphanedWildllfe by ShannonK .J acobs @.199C8 oyoteM oonP ressp O Box 6867. DenveCr O8 0206(3 030) 164699 wildlifewrlter@ao l.com

Chewonki Foundation Traveling Natural History Programs www.chewonki.org

ActiviV: tDvyls frrorn the Inside {[)ut

Explore a great horned owl from the insideo ut and find detaiiso f its remarkablet ools.

The game includes: o an owl skeletono n page 18 o pictureso f the muscleso f an owl and the outsideo f an owl on page 19 c information on pages1 8 and 27 to go with eachl ayer of the owl you will build

Youn eed: r scissors o giue or pasteo r an envelope

To play: . Removep age 19 ffom the book and cut out the owl musclel ayer and the wirole owl layer. Cut along the dotted lines. Be sure to leave the tab on your owl, This will form a hinge. r Pastet he back sideo f the tab of the musclel ayer (1),P astei t into place on top of the skeletalo wl tab (rectangulard ashedb ox). . Pastet he back side of the tab of the whole owl layer (2).P astei t in position atop the musclel ayer tab. You will be able to open your owl layer by layer and view the layers underneath. r Look for letters on the skeleton,t he musclel ayer, and the whole owl. The letters match letters of the text, which describesf eatures that help the owl be a hunter.

Slreleton Layen

A. Bony rings protect huge eyes.O wl eyesa re as lerge as human eyes!I f your eyesw ere as large, proportional to your head size,t hey would be as large as grapefruits.

B. Large, crescent-shapede ar holes iie at each side of the skull.

C. An owl's curved beak is used for shredding large prey. An owl swallows small prey whole. It has no teeth for chewing (seep age 29).

D. An owl's big eyesc annotm ove much in the eyes ocketsI.m aginet hem like car headlights, shining forward until the car turns. The owl has a flexible neck and turns its whole head to see sidewavsa nd behind.

E. Bones are hollow and lightweight for flight. Some bones contain air sacs.T hey help with breathing during flight. They help the bird lose heat when it gets too hot. Owls do not sweat.

F. Four toes with long, pointed talons spreadw ide to catch prey.

I I t t I I I I I I I r w" M < , I ' ,

, t I . 6 ' a , ; % i t: o I I I t , , t t

t f O t n a o h g S o o h o r n i e o w r l e a s

i d a f f

s f d l t r m o

r l s

g o y i b u i w g

n g o r , m o a

p h o l g r o d l ' t r s

o l w

t y

p y a e

h o a o ,

y n s

m o a n e w e

p a e n d n y a n

e t n w e

d s t h i

c n h i m

o b m t e o i s e i a y u d i o n u a r r

l n o y v s e

l f l a s

d e

e i h s n f l t w e

m s a e ) e i g e o

a . l o t , e l p h n a

a t s u n

h . e c m o n l

T t e d h r

s d i u s h t r

w h .

t s

f e

e c O o f e a

o l y a a

e a w n u k

n r u

r e d l s . l

d s

s a i o e

t w e

l h

m u p p w c

t a e n r h

t o o a t e h

d o e e m l y v e t . w i r s

r e I m i p (

n f l n b l

l r o

y a m g i t o e n

. s n . i o a o t

g f o k l f o h

t r t o s w s h o l e

o d a

l f m e

n e d

n w f m o e a

d r e i a e t

w s c h r t p e e l h i e a a t

o e h r w i s f r r s s s o . o t r o o h e U ;::"."n:,*i:i:.:n. w e y e s n h t f s - M q

o d

r o , n r u l " t "

e u h o ^ u h

i t v n , n . h . - ; e t o L " o : " "

; l s

v ^ ; ^ ; l ^ : ;

* r j : : : : ,

. "

/ . : : -

Y r ' : f

_ a o u r u { ' s u o

r r n u

P 3 r o

e r " - o

r o S

o D .

h l

n ' u I n r c

h t u o .

u j e u . t d t s d

s . " u

D{usale Layerr The Whole Orvl

G. Owlsf ocuso n J. Ear tufts arej ust prey with binocular feathers.T hey have (two-eyed)v ision. Each nothing to do with eye seesa n object hearing. Owls may from a different recogmizeo ther 6 angle,b ut the views owls of their ourn overlap.T his way of speciesb y the seeingh elps the owl shape of their judge distance.O wls ear tufts. bob and turn their heads to changet heir viewpoint. It makes near objectss tando ut from K. Feathersa round the eyesf orm saucer- the backg,t'ound. shapedf acial disks. The disksc ollects ounds and funnel them to the hearing ears that are Light comesi nto the eyet hrough the pupil, beneatht he featherso f the facial disks. ther ound center of the eye.A t nighf the pupil opensw ide to let in maximum light. By L. Owls closet heir eyesa s we do. They drop day,i t shuts to a pinpoint to let in only a little their upper eyelidst o meet the lower lids. of the bright light. The owl "sees"w hen light Beneatht hesel ids, owls have see-through falls on specialc ells at the back of the eye. eyelidst hat flick acrosst he eyeballst o clean Thesec ellsc ausen erve messagesto travelt o them and protect them when the owl is the brain. The specialc ellsa re rods and catchingp rey. cones.R ods work in low light and "see"i n black-and-white.O wls have many rod cells. M. Bristly.feathersa round an owl's beak acta s Conesw ork in daylight and seei n color.O wls sensorsT. heyw ork like a cafs whiskers. haveo nly a few of them. N. Flight feathersh ave soft, fringed edges. H. Powerful flight musclesa ttach to the The owl, with its lightweight body and large- breastbone. areaw ings, flies using a slow wing beat. \ \ Thesef eaturesm ake flight quiet. Soft body I. Musclesa nd tendons (connectionsb etween feathersh elp muffle sound. If an owl were musclea nd bone) of the legs and feet close noisy,p rey animalsw ould hear it coming. the talonst o catchp rey.T hey alsoc lamp The noiseo f the owl's o\4mm ovementsw ould talonsa round a perch so the owl doesn ot fall preventi t from hearingp rey sounds. off the tree branch when it sleeps.

W"cfiviw; orvrstryrDav

During the day, nocturnal owls roost (rest).s ome owls roost in caves, rock creviCesh, olesi n banks,o r in old buiidingso r other structures' q low, { some roost in holes in trees.o thers roost on tree branches or in \ tr\- \_r/ { shrubby tangles. r!

Seei f you can find 11 roostlngo wls in this scene' The game includes: . the "Owls in Hiding" picture on pages 22 and23 . the "Owls in Hiding" keYo n Page2 4 Youn eed: . crayonso r coloredP encils / To play: 1.1h iding owls. Color them and the rest of the forest. " Look for

{< }NJ/d o fi,t

!rz\- \ ' / /

@/ -..^/x It ^)4r t/ (p t',1 I // ,^l

NI B f t

,/, N J I

I l{ ,/

I i lt rv .'- -t 1 ( / :. , { iltr#,

t T J &IX S $ J \ l "q).4 'e\, F @ EP&t 'l 1l"-&* -T (..s.\ P*

OwlsbylDoy

1. In most owl species,m ale and femaie owls are alike in color. (Theym ay vary in size- the female is larger.) Most owls are brown; brownish gray; or gray with spots, speckles,o r bands of light and dark colors on their feathers.T his coloration is good camouflage. it helps owls blend with the surroundings. An owl often roosts againsta tree trunk and Iooksl ike part of the tree.

2. Sometimesa n owl'sb ody postureh elpsh ide it. Long-earedo wis disguiset heir owlnessb y stretching tall and thin, with their ear tufts upright. Their slit-eyess carcelys how.L ook closelyi n the wild! That "broken branch" could be an owl.

3. Open eyess ometimesg ive away an owl's position, especiallyi f they are large, glearningy ellow eyes.

4. Someo wls havee ye-likem arkingso n the back of their necks.S cientistst hink this pattern may deceive would-be predators into thinking the owl is watching them.

5. When an owl is threateneda t its roost or nest, it / half-raisesi ts wings and puffs up its body feathers. The owl makesi tself look large and opens its eyes wide. it may hisso r clacki ts beaki n self-defense.

All thesef eaturesp rotect owls from predators. Not many predatorsc atcha dulto wls. Smailo wls may be eatenb y larger owls, such as great horned owls. Young.o wls, especiallyi n the nest,m ay becomet he prey of eaglesh, awks,o possums,o r raccoons.

Unlike this puzzle,y ou would never find elevend ifferent roosting owls so closet ogether in nature! Predatorsa re spread out in nature,b ecausee ach needsa large hunting areat o catche noughp rey.

PeIIet lDeteetive

An owl tears large prey with its beak. It swallows small prey whole - skulls, bones, claws,f eathers,f ur, and all! But an owl cannot digest the claws, bones, and fur. The stuff it can't digest is formed into a sausage-shaped pellet that takes about B hours to form.afler a rneal.T he owl regnrgitates, or coughs 'up, the pellet through its mouth. Owls reg,urgitateo ne or two pellets every 24 hours.

Pelletsc an provide many clues about what owls eat, But pellets cannot tell everything about the owl's diet. After all, tender bits of meatl eaven o undigestedr emains.S cientists study pellets to learn about what owls eat. They note where the pellets were found. Bones sorted from the peliets tell the scientistsw hat animalst he owl ate.T he results can be surprising. Sometimetsh e bonesp rovet o be from small animalsu nknownb eforef rom that habitat.

Be a. pellet d.eteorfrve o.rr ne,a,l pelletg

Chewonki recommends obtaining owl pellets fiom one ofthe following organizations:

Pellets.com http ://www.pellet.com/view3roduct.aspx?categorylD= I &subcategorylD=4

Online ScienceM all http :/./r'r,lvs,.onlinesciccne tnall.cotn Or

Dissecotn linew ithK idWings http:/ /www.kidwings.corn/owlpellets/

. maj ority gf Americar-r owls, untike InEtny other birds Ttre N'rnoartkhe of prelr brefer to their tromes with:in the d.eeaying cavities of' trees. ;it;-=p""i"=-inctuding: .The Northern Saw-whet ,Owl, Eastern and been Western Screech Glrls, Barred Orpls, and Barn Or^ils h'aevneti cea lso lcrown to inhabit birdhouses ! If you wou1d. like to an owl to stalr 'wit}.in your area to become an importarrt part of the local. ,ecosystem.we lrave included, pJ.ans for birdtrbuses suital:le fo':r, the. needs of ow.ls .

. Sbfeech oqrl ar.rd .Faw-rry{ret

Desira-bLe pTacement HabiEaE.' Tlr.e saw-whet prefers heavily wooded areas often located near wet . or rlrajrstry places . Screech Owls t,end. to live in ruraL areas . They.. are often for.:nd. nesting on the bor:nd.aries between mead.ows and dgep w.bods, taking adv4nEage of ttr.e cover the woods provid.e while they can scout the meadow for prey. Height: On a tree, Bost or even building between 5'-20, higrh. Dimensions TotaL height, of box: L5"-L8o Insid.e fJ-oor o-rmensions: 6" 'x 6' to B" x Bn iisi ght of hole above f Joor: 1-0" --L2" Entrartce hole tiameter: 2.5"-4'

. Ba:=ed.. Orvls

DesirabTe pTacement Habitat: Bared owls Brefer wooded. areas pri-marily in rural settj:egs. Height: L0'-20' on a tree :. Dimensions TotaT heig:ht of box: 22" -.28" Insid.e fToor d.isnension: L3'i x L3" to L4" x L4, Height of hoLe above floor: L4"-I8 Entrance-hoLe dianteter : 5"..-8"

The Chewonki Foundation Traveling Natural History Programs www.chewonki.org

Chewonki Foundation Traveling Natural History Programs www.chewonki.org

Recommended Web Sites This list of recommended websites contains information pertaining to the program you have ordered. These websites are not associated with the Chewonki Foundation and we are not responsible for the content or advertising found therein.

AIMS Education Foundation: http://www.aimsedu.org/ Notes: This website provides resources for educators in the areas of math and science.

KidWings: http://www.kidwings.com/index.htm Notes: This website has a lot of great information about owls and birds in general. Anything from information on bird skulls to a virtual pellet dissection. There is also a section for students with bone matching games and a crossword puzzle.

Owl Activities for Children: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/birds-owls.html Notes: This website offers educators a variety of owl crafts and coloring pagesfor younger students as well as a few fairy tales and rhymes.

The Raptor Center: http://www.raptor.cvm.umn.edu/raptor/Learn.html Notes: This website offers some useful information about raptors and provides resources for educators. Lesson plans for all ages are available.

Owls: http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Cliffs/4490/owlsintro.html Notes: Simple, kid-friendly website offers pictures of a variety of owl species and brief descriptions of each. Good for second through sixth graders looking for species-specific information.

World Owl Trust: http://www.owls.org/Information/info.htm Notes: This is a great website that provides information about the different owl species of the world. Information from plumage to hunting strategies is offered.